The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-25
A MAINE TAR,s STORY
He Describes the Death of the Prince In
perial

There is one now residing among the hills of
Old Oxford, a man who was a soldier in the
Zulu war, and one of the party which at
tackled by the savages when Prince Napoleon
was slain His story of the death of the son of
the nephew OF the great warrior possesses a
fascinating interest and is thus related: Two
OF US, born within sight OF the White mountains,
having gone to sea. were in Port Louis, Mauri
tias, when the Zulu war broke out II is the
custom OF the English government when WAT
breaks out in any of her colonies to enlist in her
service all persons who can be induced to do so.
The recruits are well paid. are generally mount
ed where cavalry can be used. and almost always
see the hardest service. At the expiration of
their enlistment they furnished transporta-
ton free to any place they may choose This
is quite an inducenent for men who have been
hanging around the world for some wears be-
sides there is a change from to a land serv-
ice. The marines have generally done good
service when employed. and at the time of
the Sepoy rebellion the soldiers enlisted from
merchant vessels of their own and other nations,
did their duty SO well and their aid was so VAL
liable that to this day condemned vessel is
always moored in the harbor of Calcutta, where
all who have ever been thus enlisted may have
opportunity TO go on board, and may read
books, the Calcutta and foreign papers,
which are provided by the British government
and free to all such as have described There
are also pens ink and paper. so that one may
write and send letters home or elsewhere
Well as was saying. my chum and en-
listed for the Zulu war. twas in the year 1879
l.
the time of enlistment at Port Durham. South
Africa. in May of that year. when mustered into
the British army We were termed the irregu-
lars by the British officers but among ourselves
were called the Mounted Marines. We
attached to the Ninety-first Fusileers under tie
command of Major Stewart. who was afterward
country, we We're put right into the hardest and
most disagreeable work. We were not consid
cred much. taken were from the merchant
ships of all nations. Who cared for usl Not
the British officers surely. Where could be
used to save the regulars it was done. But this
might, of course, have been expected under the
circumstances.
THE savages were good fighters. and had they
been equally good marksmen with their rifles
and muskets Of which they had limited and
varied supply the English troops would surely
have been beaten. They were good marksInen
with their spears, or assegais. the Zulus
called them. but of course people with such
weapons alone would stand much of sight
against the gunnery of Europe
The main army on the first of June was en-
camped at Koppie Allen. on the banks of
river. with the suggestive name of Blood. which
was the boundary between Zululand and the
Transvaal. detachment under Major Stewart,
having been ordered forward TO select
camping ground, the Prince Imperial who had
came out to learn warfare. and who was holding
the rank of honorary captain in the British
army, asked permission 10 go with it. and his
request was granted My chum and myself
were of the party and what is here related
came under my own observation.
There is the best of reasons for believing,
themselves felt no ill-will toward the Prince
1t was known throughout ali Zululand thai ne
was there substantially a non-cornbatant. The
English officers and men were very anxious
lest anything should happen to so distinguished
person, and we all felt personal interest IN
him. not only on account of his being the heir
presumptive to the throne of France, but also
for his good qualities, his modest and gentle
manly bearing, and his amiable disposition.
Had any danger been suspected he would not
have been permitted to go.
nrHa trS oIla,~o r Leg
for the army, route was selected which led
through ravine, where, after a few miles
travel we found suitable place to pitch the
tents. Here we stopped and the Prince Ilnpe-
rial took escort to go out a short distance to
make a sketch. 1t consisted of small number
of the Irregulars and an equal number of Basu-
tos, or black scouts, under command of Lieut..
Cary. For some reason the blacks were not
ready when the rest of US started. We went
perhaps mile from camp where we disnount
make sketch 1t in the open country
with high hill the east of us, which was
thickly wooded. We stood with our backs TO
ward it, holding the brides of our horses,
watching the sketching when all at some
one called out, The Zulus are comingr ard look
ing round we saw a large number Of the savasea
issuing from the woods at the foot of the hill
A shower of aSsegais fell around us, and every
man except myself and the Prince sprang intu
his saddle to get away. small number
would be match for many Zulus The
Prince Imperial hastily thrust his sketch into
the breast of his coat and yielded the reins of
his horse into his hands. and leaped into the
saddle of my own horse. Had he not stopped
to secure the SKETCH think he mighthave been
alive to-day.
He proceeded to mount. while ], already IL
the saddle turned my horses head in the direc
ton Lieutenant Cary and the others had taken
Surprising the Prince to be close behind me,
shot at full speed around the hill. and soon
out of sight. The aSsegais few around me. and
/ didn't think of him, but only of reaching
place of safety. 1t time when common
soldier would naturally think of his own life
A. into Nalr ---r<
came to the door of his tent and said Fol
Gods sake, where is the PrinceP We then
for the first time that he wasn't with us Stew
art was as pale ghost while Lieutenant Cary
was relating what had occurred.
"A large party was Immediately sent back &c
find him. When we got to the place where we
had been surprised by the Zulus. found the
dead horse of the Prince. full of assegas, but he
was nowhere to be seen. 1t supposed even
then that he had been taken prisoner. and
returned to camp and reported In about
hour Zulu bearing a white flag ramroG
came into camp and informed the commander
that the Prince had been killed, they not know
ing who he was, and that his body would be de-
vered at the place where he was slain A de-
tachment of six men was sent out. and the body
was found where the Zulus had placed it.
had been taken from it. The0 were
several wounds upon it, and eye had been
youged out NIajor Stewart told by the
Zulu who bore the flag of truce that if the body
not be molested. It was accordingly taken to
England
ssrhere was court martial to determine who
was to blame if anybody Lieutenant Cary
who was the first one to flee when the Zulus
zane out of the woods upon u.s. got off tech
lical grounds. l have no doubt those high il
authority would have been glad had we ali per
shed. so that there could have been no chance
% blame any of the English soldiers 1t has
oeen said that the man. who made the saddle OF
lis horse was the real of his death, as.
,eing of poor material, it broke when he at
empted to mount, and think there is much
ense in that view of the as to blame any
me of US, with the exception of Lieutenant
Jary. perhaps
After old Cetewayo had been captured and
he war brought to a close, plain marble mon
lment was sent out from England to be erected
IN the spot where the Prince fell My chum
nd were of the party, as we were also when
he Empress Eugene came out shortly after
o see the place where her son had met his un-
imely death Colonel Stewart had command OF
ne escort, and was given charge of the mule
rain that took her and attendants from Port